Sign-support.



J. M. WALSH.

SIGN SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED IuLYI4, I914.

1,174,368. I v Patented Mar. 7,1916.

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JOHN M. WALSH, 0F PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA.

SIGN-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. "7, 191.6.

Application filed July 14, 1914. Serial No. 850,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. WALSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Petaluma, in the county of Sonoma and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sign-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to street semaphores, and particularly to a device which may be installed in streets and thoroughfares for the guidance of drivers of vehicles in turning corners and crossing streets.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a semaphore device which is of substantial inexpensive construction and so designed as to withstand the blows and knocks to which it is liable to be subjected by passing vehicles and draft animals, and particularly to provide a semaphore which may be readily installed in the street paving at little expense and which, while being conspicuous, yet will afford but little obstruction to traffic, and which is so constructed that when subjected to blows from moving vehicles, or draft animals, is adapted to yield or move in a line of least resistance, so as to give way under the striking medium.

It is a further object of-the invention to provide a street semaphore which will project but slightly above the street paving and which includes a night signal connectible with any suitable source of energy.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the semaphore as installed in the pavement at a street crossing. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the mounting of the device, the semaphore being shown in elevation.

The invention comprises means which are adapted to be installed in street crossings at such points as it is desired to control the di rection of movement of the traffic over the streets so as to be a permanent sign for the direction of movement ofthe traffic, and to serve as a post about which the vehicles of the traffic should be driven when turning the corners.

2 indicates a substantial spherical member resting on a suitable seat 3 of a receptacle or shell 4, which is adapted to be sunken in the pavement. Projecting upwardly from the ball 2 is a substantial tubular stafi or standard 5 turnably mounted on which is a directlon indicating arrow 6, and suitably mounted 1n or upon the staff 5 is an electric bulb 7, suitably guarded by a cage structure 8 of the staff 5. The stafl' is designed to be held in perpendicular position above the street pavement, through any suitable means, this belng shown as including a spring 9. one end of which is attached to the bottom of the shell 4 and the upper end of which is connected by a suitable swivel means, as a link 10 to the ball 2, which is here shown as flattened at one side, as at 11, for the purpose of permltting the ball to rotate and carry the staff 5 through an angle of 90 in any direction. This operation allows the staff 5 to be thrown from a perpendicular or vertical position above the street pavement, to a substantlally horizontal position when it may rest upon the flange of the shell or socket 4,

and readily support the weight of any vehicle or animal that may be imposed upon it.

When the staff is thrown to the horizontal position, the flattened side 11 of the ball swings upwardly in the opposite direction across the concaved seat 3 and the movement ofthe swivel 10 allows for the full movement of the staff 5. As soon as pressure is relieved from the staff which has been pressed in any direction, the spring 10 contracts and automatically brings the staff- 5 to the vertical again. The arrow 6 is preferably made of substantial design and will, when struck by any moving body turn freely about the staff 5, so as to be protected against injury. The electric bulb 7 may be energized with current supplied by main wires 12, brought from any suitable source of supply, as a convenient electric lamp nearby.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A sign support comprising a spherical body member, a complementary seat-portion sunken in the street pavement, and a staff supported by the body member, .with means connected to said member for automatically maintaining the staff in a vertical position, said means comprising a spring connected to the body at a point opposite the staff.

2. A. sign support comprising a socket bearing, a s herical member positioned in said bearing, a staff secured to the spherical member, and a coil spring secured at one end to the opposite side of the spherical member and at the other end to a rigid support.

3. A support for a sign comprising a socket bearing adapted to be implanted in a street paving, a staff with a ball on said bearing adapted to be moved by a blow from any direction to the horizontal and au- 'tomatically return, after pressure is relieved,

to the vertical, said ball and socket designed 10 to carry a superposed load, and ball. bearings interposed between the hall and the socket to render the device easily-operable.

In. testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN M. WALSH.

Witnesses:

A. RODGERS, NEWTON A. JOHNSON. 

